What do you love about William & Mary?

[Anonymous]

Alum here. There are so many things I loved that have already been mentioned: the beautiful campus, the small class sizes, the overall size, and even Williamsburg itself. One thing I have always loved is the school spirit. It’s in no way a big sports school compared to bigger state schools, but people still love coming back for homecoming and all the surrounding activities. There’s a lot of affection among alums for our time there. Got a great, well-rounded education and made lifelong friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid there. And honestly Op— if your kid doesn’t want to attend, do him and the WM community a favor and don’t force it. WM works very hard in admissions, and put so much emphasis on demonstrated interest and ED, because it wants to create a cohesive community of kids who love where they are. WM is consistently rated in the top 10 schools in that ion for happiest students, and the kids I know at WM do love being there. And I believe this is because WM considers fit and desire to attend in the admissions process “Who comes here belongs here” is a big deal at W&M. If you kid doesn’t think it’s a good fit, listen to him.

If he’s unsure, that’s natural. Go to DFAS and then let him decide. Because in the end, what makes WM special isn’t the traditions, or the Hogworts Express (a favorite of mine) or the class size, or even the professors. It’s the students. An incredibly kind, accepting, hard working but still looking for fun group of kids. Definitely the peer group I want for my student as the navigate newly minted adulthood making decisions without parents looking over their shoulder for the first time. I just love the personal growth and great decision making I’ve seen from my kid.

+1000
Great post!
-from a parent of a DC who is applying ED to W&M

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dorms.

Can you say more? I thought the dorms at W&M were bad?

[Anonymous]

How is the food nowadays? Did it get better?

[Anonymous]

Food is getting way better
Housing situation is getting way way better - lots of new dorms being built, some ready for Fall 2025
LOVE W&M

[Anonymous]

The dorm comment was probably sarcasm. But the dorm situation at WM is significantly changing. Several brand new dorms are opening next fall and they are demolishing the worst. Over the next few years, all of the old dorms will either be remodeled or replaced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid there. And honestly Op— if your kid doesn’t want to attend, do him and the WM community a favor and don’t force it. WM works very hard in admissions, and put so much emphasis on demonstrated interest and ED, because it wants to create a cohesive community of kids who love where they are. WM is consistently rated in the top 10 schools in that ion for happiest students, and the kids I know at WM do love being there. And I believe this is because WM considers fit and desire to attend in the admissions process “Who comes here belongs here” is a big deal at W&M. If you kid doesn’t think it’s a good fit, listen to him.

If he’s unsure, that’s natural. Go to DFAS and then let him decide. Because in the end, what makes WM special isn’t the traditions, or the Hogworts Express (a favorite of mine) or the class size, or even the professors. It’s the students. An incredibly kind, accepting, hard working but still looking for fun group of kids. Definitely the peer group I want for my student as the navigate newly minted adulthood making decisions without parents looking over their shoulder for the first time. I just love the personal growth and great decision making I’ve seen from my kid.

Demonstrated Interest - if and how does WM factors this? Most schools do not count this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid there. And honestly Op— if your kid doesn’t want to attend, do him and the WM community a favor and don’t force it. WM works very hard in admissions, and put so much emphasis on demonstrated interest and ED, because it wants to create a cohesive community of kids who love where they are. WM is consistently rated in the top 10 schools in that ion for happiest students, and the kids I know at WM do love being there. And I believe this is because WM considers fit and desire to attend in the admissions process “Who comes here belongs here” is a big deal at W&M. If you kid doesn’t think it’s a good fit, listen to him.

If he’s unsure, that’s natural. Go to DFAS and then let him decide. Because in the end, what makes WM special isn’t the traditions, or the Hogworts Express (a favorite of mine) or the class size, or even the professors. It’s the students. An incredibly kind, accepting, hard working but still looking for fun group of kids. Definitely the peer group I want for my student as the navigate newly minted adulthood making decisions without parents looking over their shoulder for the first time. I just love the personal growth and great decision making I’ve seen from my kid.

Demonstrated Interest - if and how does WM factors this? Most schools do not count this.

Visit, open house day, on campus interview, applying ED.

[Anonymous]

Our tour guide was a complete turnoff. Sadly, soured my kid on W&M and no longer interested. Oh well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our tour guide was a complete turnoff. Sadly, soured my kid on W&M and no longer interested. Oh well!

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our tour guide was a complete turnoff. Sadly, soured my kid on W&M and no longer interested. Oh well!

Ours too! She was on her fourth major and didn’t inspire confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our tour guide was a complete turnoff. Sadly, soured my kid on W&M and no longer interested. Oh well!

Ours too! She was on her fourth major and didn’t inspire confidence.

Np. I toured W&m a few weeks ago while my kid was on a shadow day. I wasn't into the first tour guide I had (she was a bit of a valley girl), so I shifted myself into a different tour and had a really good tour guide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our tour guide was a complete turnoff. Sadly, soured my kid on W&M and no longer interested. Oh well!

Ours too! She was on her fourth major and didn’t inspire confidence.

My wife totally had the hots for our tour guide. My daughter not as much, she still prefers JMU.

[Anonymous]

Outside of DMV - no one knows about William and Mary.

Its a nice place, but all the BS about 'fit' is to make people who got in, feel good. But that is about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Outside of DMV - no one knows about William and Mary.

Its a nice place, but all the BS about 'fit' is to make people who got in, feel good. But that is about it.

I grew up in California and knew about W&M